Launched Company: IronRock

Josh began working out of Catapult when it first opened in 2014, making the 45-minute trip from Lake Wales to Lakeland to take advantage of the space. His company, IronRock Software, helps businesses turn data into actionable knowledge. After about a year working out of Catapult, he realized he needed a larger office that reflected the personality of his business. It’s been 2 years since he moved into his own space, so here’s an update on what’s been happening at IronRock.

How was the transition from working out of a coworking space to your own space? Great! Two years ago I knew that it was time for me to have a space of my own. Design makes a huge difference for my clients, so I made sure to create an office that they would enjoy and appreciate. That really increased our appeal to new clients and legitimized us as a business. We are currently looking to take the next step of purchasing a space of our own to continue to grow the business here in Polk County, but just have to find a space that is as interesting as the company we strive to become.

What are some wins for your business since you’ve moved into your new space? We were featured in Polk Life Magazine! We have also been able to hire interns from Florida Poly who have been a real benefit to have around the office in terms of keeping me up to date with the latest tools and technologies in the industry. In fact, we have begun work on a series of tools and taken on a number of projects that I would never have considered had I not worked with them.

Have you been able to hire any new employees? Yes! two full-time and two part-time. I also have a few contract/remote workers.

What goals have changed from when you first started to now? When I first started, I was just trying to make a living. I spent 2-3 years consistently worrying about when the next paycheck was coming. Now I no longer have to think in terms of how we will make money this month or this year, but what technology trends we should be following to make money and prosper in 5, 10, or 20 years from now.

How did Catapult help you? I took advantage of everything Catapult had to offer! I found a mentor, took the CO.STARTERS course, and gained a community of entrepreneurs to “fill each other’s knowledge gaps.” It’s where I found enthusiastic collaboration and gained more than I expected!

What would you wish next for your business? We are going several different directions at the moment as we move into projects like natural language processing and artificial intelligence. We hope that our work in these cutting-edge tools allow us to continue to remain competitive and grow our business.